ALL CAN SKI

Texas Adaptive Aquatics is an amazing non-profit organization based in Houston that brings water sports to the physically and mentally disabled. Annually they host an event at Sea World San Antonio in conjunction with San Antonio Sports and the World Entertainment water skiers of Sea World, San Antonio. I started water skiing at Sea World in 2002, this was my first experience working with Texas Adaptive Aquatics and it truly changed my life.

Since I was 7 years old I have loved to water ski. Just ask my mom about the size of the smile on my face if I am being pulled around behind a boat. I learned to water ski at camp in Wisconsin. I joined an amateur show ski team back home in Florida called the Sarasota Ski-A-Rees and did competitions and shows for the public starting when I was 10 years old. I started water skiing professionally when I was 16 at Cypress Gardens in Florida. After I graduated from College with a degree in Theater, I figured show skiing was performance, maybe I should get back into it... That is when I started skiing at Sea World in San Antonio.

Like I said, I LOVE water skiing! Everyone should have the opportunity to experience what it is like to glide over the water, get sprayed in the face and have the wind in their hair. It is one of the best sensations there is as far as I am concerned. This is what struck me at my first "All Can Ski" experience; I saw the faces of the participants light up like I know mine does when I am on the water. The smiles, the pure joy and the exhilaration are unparalleled. I know what that feels like and I love to share that feeling with as many people as possible, but especially those who may assume that because of their disability that opportunities such as these are not available to them.

Texas Adaptive Aquatics brings water skiing to the disabled through the use of specialized water skiing equipment called "sit skis". The Sit Ski was brought over from Europe in the early 80's and modified in the late 80's by Royce Andes, a barefoot skier that became a high level quadriplegic after a ski accident. Texas Adaptive Aquatics (TAA) uses 5 different styles of sit skis. They have one for very high level quadriplegics, one for beginner skiers, one for intermediates and one for advanced skiers and competitions as well as a trick ski for advanced skiers.

This year I regrettably was not on the Sea World Ski Team. I did however volunteer for the 3 day All Can Ski event held August 25th to 27th. Once again it was brilliant! I got sunburnt, bruised and waterlogged and I loved every minute of it. The participants of all different ages and disabilities are amazing, brave and inspirational people to work with, the staff of Texas Adaptive Aquatics and San Antonio Sports are such good people that words fail to do them justice and the camaraderie that I found in my fellow volunteers was wonderful as well; I'm pretty sure I even made some new friends.

All Can Ski is an event that I hope to participate in annually and Texas Adaptive Aquatics is an organization that I hope to volunteer with frequently. To find out more about All Can Ski and similar events, check out www.taasports.org and www.sanantoniosports.org/allcanski.

Favre Plays for the Vikings!

My exclamation upon hearing that Brett Favre was once again un-retiring to join the Vikings this season was, "I knew it! That Rat Bastard!"

It just did not sound definitive when he said that he was retiring back in July. On top of the detected insincerity, we are all aware that the man has a penchant for the dramatic, is wishy washy at best and hates training camp. This time though I am pretty sure that the Vikings were in on it... They had to have been. At the very least Brad Childress must have told Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, "don't get your hopes up."

This brings me to my point... Football is all about money, especially if you are NOT the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Packers are very wholesome in this respect. They are the ONLY team owned by the people rather than some big shot billionaire football team owner. Having Brett Favre on your team will sell merchandise! In 2008 The Packers camp/ Mike McCarthy/ Ted Thompson chose to do the right thing instead of the lucrative thing.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me and say that it was a poor choice on the part of The Packers not to bring Favre back in 2008 when he did his little retirement dance. We must remember that prior to that Favre wrestled with retirement for most of this decade and the on again off again saga became an annual melodrama that effected the entire team. I believe they did the right thing from a purely ethical standpoint. We all know that even though Favre is nearly 40 years old (almost old enough to be Aaron Rodgers father) and that his body is falling apart and his game may not be as good as it used to be (he proved that with The Jets) nevertheless his signed contract with The Vikings will sell an awful lot of merchandise...

I am a Packers fan through and through. I was a Favre fan and now I am a Rodgers fan. A friend of mine once said that the "real" "old school" Packers fans want Favre back and "don't like Rodgers!" To that I say, actually the "real old school" fans want Bart Starr back. Seriously folks, quarterbacks come and go, this is football, they don't last forever... And in the meantime the only explanation I can give as to why the Vikings are willing to put up with Favre's divaesque antics is pure and simple, money, oh and he will probably make their team slightly better as well as garner tons of media attention!

For me this is all so plain and clear, but what are those lost souls from Wisconsin who were born into both Packer fandom and Favre fanaticism going to do? Where do they turn their loyalty? Today must be a particularly difficult day for those people. It was easy when Favre played for the Jets, they are in a different conference, the fans could have their cake and eat it too. But not now; not only will Favre play against Wisconsin's beloved Packers but he will be playing for one of their historically most significant rivals. This is nearly the equivalent of him signing on with, god forbid, The Bears! I am curious how these broken hearted fans will reconcile this pro ball travesty emotionally. Who/what will win amongst the torn fans? "The Team" or "The Man", who used to play for "The Team?"

Welcome to I Scream Social

Welcome to my blog, I Scream Social!

I have finally created it. I have been inspired by many other blogs that I have been reading and I often have a lot to say (whether anyone cares or not remains to be seen), so the time has come... Now that I have this blog I hope that I am as witty, entertaining, inspiring and informative as I have imagined myself being. Now that it is no longer just a fantasy there is pressure to actually write something. This blog is going to serve several purposes. You may be interested in some of my posts and not others.

Here are some of the topics you might find here:

1. A tour journal/stories from the road for Before Dawn (www.beforedawnband.com)

2. A health journal of sorts discussing my trials and tribulations with Type 1 Diabetes in addition to fitness and nutrition concerns and achievements.

3. Feminism: rants, raves and awareness.

4. Reviews of experiences and products that I like and don't like.

5. Links to other articles, peoples work and writing that has inspired me, made me smile or in some way moved me enough to make me want to share it with everyone I know.

6. The Green Bay Packers

I am sure that my posts will be varied and diverse... Many people comment on and applaud my rather diverse interests, tastes and collection of hobbies. Personally I just think that I am easily distracted and lack the healthy amount of self - doubt that usually keeps people from taking on too much. Also I think I got confused early in life when my parents told me that I could accomplish anything that I wanted... I think I must have understood that to mean that I could accomplish EVERYTHING that I wanted. So here I am at 30 years old, I have a BFA in Theater, I am a semi retired professional show skier, a massage therapist, a lyricist, budding musician/bass player in a touring band with my husband that I also manage and book, I am a dancer/acrobat now learning Aerial techniques on silks suspended from the ceiling, I am a TYPE 1 Diabetic with fears that I try to ignore, I have Menieres Disease too (look it up), I am an ardent feminist as is my husband and I am contemplating grad school. These are some of the more significant parts of my life right now and somehow this all only begins to scratch the surface. Oh and I like football, but really just the Green Bay Packers.

Here's what makes me happy: Being outdoors...

Camping, Hiking, Biking, Running, Paddling, Swimming, Riding (referring to water in almost any form including snow, not horses), Star Gazing, Making Fires, Cooking, Eating & Drinking. Life just tastes better outside.

I have been looking forward to starting "I Scream Social" for a long time and felt that I must have my thoughts organized in order to begin. I have decided now that I must simply begin, just like everything else I have ever done. I hope to entertain, inspire and provoke thought, action and conversation. Welcome to my first blog, "I Scream Social!" I just might become a one woman magazine.